This 10-inch-high urn in the Sevres style was probably made by Jacob Petit in Paris. Many companies in or around Paris from 1820 to 1890 did not sign their work.

Written by

Terry Kovel

Jacob Petit (1796-1868) was a talented porcelain painter who worked for the Sevres factory in France, then opened his own shop near Paris sometime after 1830 and took over a nearby factory in about 1834. He sold his factory to one of his employees in 1862, but he continued to work in Paris until 1866.

In less than 10 years, he had hired about 200 people to make and decorate porcelains. They made ornamental vases, statues, clocks, inkwells and perfume bottles.

A specialty was figural veilleuses shaped like sultans or fortunetellers. These were tea warmers meant for use in the bedroom. Each was a ...